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Prabowo doubles down on diplomacy, democracy at Antalya forum
The President emphasized that diplomacy was still the "best option" for keeping the world on track in upholding a rules-based order and highlighted his commitment to democratic principles, while warning about the double standards of certain countries with regard to championing human rights.
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President Prabowo Subianto (right) sits next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 11, 2025, at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the coastal city of Antalya in southwestern Turkey. (Reuters/Kaan Soyturk)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto has expressed doubt over the effectiveness of diplomacy amid rising geopolitical tensions across the world while reaffirming his commitment to democratic principles.
Speaking on Friday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, the President voiced his concerns about the state of global diplomacy, warning that the world was slipping back into a global order where “might often triumphs over right”.
This year’s annual forum, which brings together world leaders, high-level officials, policymakers and academics, ran from April 11 to 13 in the coastal city of Antalya in southwestern Turkey under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World”.
“To be very frank, I now tend to be a bit pessimistic about the success of diplomacy,” Prabowo told the forum. “What we’re seeing now is the reality of Thycidides’ philosophy: The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,” he said
He also observed the erosion of the rules-based international order, highlighting the double standards of some Western powers that championed human rights but remained silent in the face of civilian suffering, particularly as regards Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Even so, Prabowo emphasized that diplomacy was essential, though he warned that a failure of diplomatic means might force nations, especially those in the Global South, to divert their resources from development to defense.
“We cannot give up on diplomacy. Diplomacy remains the best option we have, even though many nations are now preparing for the worst,” he said.
